“Recent testing and demonstrations have consistently shown that
the new casings can be integrated into naval missiles and are
durable enough to withstand both high acceleration of missile
launch and the forces exposed to during the detonation event,”
said Dr. Clifford Bedford, ONR’s energy conversion program
officer, in the press release announcement August 10. “The
HDRM fragments can penetrate a target’s skin, followed by a rapid
and sustained combustion/explosion.”

The press release states that HDRM has the strength of
aluminum alloys but the density of steel, which is important for
existing weapons to maintain accuracy of a hit.